Batwoman: The Complete First Season (Blu-ray Review)
With the CW’s flagship Arrowverse show, um, Arrow, having its final curtain call following the Infinite Crisis mini-series, a new vigilante show would arise to fill that void in its wake. Batwoman was the character to do so, filling the familiar streets of Gotham with a new angle with familiar vibes and new characters. One of the big attractions in the show’s launch was the high profile casting of Ruby Rose in the title role as Kate Kane. Unfortunately, that spark was short lived as she exited the show after two years in the role and only one (COVID shortened) season of the show (She debuted in the previous years’ crossover event). All eyes and interest will be on how the show’s second season handles this pivot, but you can return to that inaugural and unique season of Batwoman when it arrives on Bu-ray later this month (August 18). Pre-order links up are up now all around, but its always appreciated when you click on the paid Amazon Associates link that follows the review. Continue reading ‘Batwoman: The Complete First Season (Blu-ray Review)’
Scream Factory continues its digging through the Paramount catalog vault this month and uncovers 1990s film version of the television anthology horror series Tales From The Darkside. Slapped with a Collector’s Edition label, its coming to Blu-ray for the very first item and is accompanied by a brand new impressive six-part retrospective documentary. The film boasts a load of talent, including the likes of Julianne Moore, Christian Slater, Debbie Harry, Steve Buscemi and James Remar while crafting stories from Stephen King, George A. Romero, Arthur Conan Doyle with effects from KNB. That’s kind of a star studded roster all around. This edition comes with some really impressive new key art and other archival material as well. You can put a pre-order in now at Shout! Factory’s website or by using the paid Amazon link that follows the review. Tales From The Darkside: The Movie arrives in stores and online August 25th.
For the past (a little over a) year, Scream Factory has been blessing us every couple months with a Universal Horror Collection. Each set gathering four films from the 1930s-1950s that weren’t of the Classic Monsters canon and putting them onto Blu-ray for the first time. Many of them starring legends like Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney Jr., Bela Lugosi and Lionel Atwill. The previous set even put out a monster’s entire series (“Cheena, the Ape Woman”) for the first time. Some primarily science fiction movies have squeezed their way into these sets as well, and are certainly a welcomed addition. Sadly, Scream Factory has announced that this sixth set will be the last one in the series. I’m sure if they are able to, they will pick it up again, but for now, that’s all She-Wolf of London wrote. Its going out with a bang too, with films featuring Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney Jr. and Barbara Shelley. You can pre-order the set from the paid Amazon link below to complete your set when it arrives August 25th.
One of Hollywood’s most legendary and electric onscreen and offscreen couples of all time were Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn. The duo starred in a total of nine films together from 1942’s Woman of the Year all the way to 1967’s Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, with the run only ending due to the death of Tracy that same year. As a couple they were their own brand and franchise and have seldom been match or had anything like it in the history of cinema before and after. Warner Archive Collection will be bringing two of their classics to Blu-ray for the first time in August, 1945’s Without Love and 1952’s Pat and Mike. This review will be taking a look at the sports romantic comedy Pat and Mike that also stars Aldo Ray and has smaller roles filled by the likes of later stars Charles Bronson and Chuck Connors. You can pre-order the film now and find it available on Warner Archive Collection’s own shop for release on August 25th.
Growing up, I had parents that were big fans of John Travolta. Pretty much, if he was in a movie playing in theaters, we were seeing it. If we missed it, we were renting it the week it came out on VHS. They were mostly addicted to the subpar outings of his. An unfortunate piece of trivia for me, is that due to this, I’ve seen every movie in the Look Who’s Talking series in theaters. And of course, one film we DIDN’T go see him for in theaters was Pulp Fiction. Go figure. Anyway, what does my crying and griping about my parents taking me to Mr. Travolta’s lesser projects have relevance for here? Well, I saw Michael opening weekend. Which is the film for which the Blu-ray I’m about to review is of. I didn’t remember much of this Nora Ephron film, so I felt maybe it’d be neat to revisit it when the Warner Archive Collection August titles came by my desk. The film will be available for the first time on August 11th and can be pre-ordered on their website or from the paid Amazon link below.
One month, two Jerry Zucker titles from two different decades and two completely directions for the Paramount Presents brand label. We first talked about Ghost, but now lets shift landing gears to Airplane! A landmark comedy that has never left the “movie quotes” lexicon and still works its magic on generation after generation. And this year it is turning 40 years old. Holy moly, you have earned that exclamation point! For this new edition there is a new 4K transfer of the film, overseen by its directors. The Filmmaker Focus is here, but another new bonus feature comes in the likes of a Q&A recorded back in January at the Egyptian Theater (Remember when we used to go to those places? Ah, fond memories). Its available now in this edition or a steelbook which are both handsomely priced. You can nab this one with the standard Paramount Presents packaging by clicking on the Amazon Associates link that follows the review.
Scooby-Doo has long been one of the most popular children’s cartoons in the Amercian pop culture lexicon. Since its creation 40 years ago, the toon has constantly been refurbished, re-run, re-invented and re-introduced to brand new generations. Like many a Mickey Mouse or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, once Scooby-Doo arrived on the scene, he never left. The latest iteration, SCOOB!, was one of the famed movies that were prepared for a theatrical released, but as a result of the (continuing in the US) pandemic, altered its distribution to be a direct to VOD title. Probably influenced by the success of Trolls: World Tour, SCOOB! just up and gave it a go. As a father of two, I took the bait, seeing as we would have seen it in theaters anyway at the same cost. Now, happily, its arriving on physical media AND on the glorious 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray format. So, all you dastardly Why So Blu readers go forth, read the review and order yourself your own copy of SCOOB!
For the 25th anniversary of Clueless, and almost on the exact day, Paramount will be re-releasing the Amy Heckerling film on Blu-ray with a special steelbook to commemorate the milestone. To shoot straight to the point, this is the exact same disc that has been out for eight years now, just in brand new and more fashionable clothing. One would wish that they’d have offered up something more; a new transfer, a retrospective, an interview, a 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray release…something that felt a little more worthwhile. Steelbooks are cool, but what about the big fans that already have the film? At least the pricepoint isn’t too bad. You can own the new packaging when it releases to stores online and physical on July 21st. Lets revisit this same same disc disc.
Paramount Presents returns this month with two new editions of classics from Jerry Zucker that helped launch the 1980s and 1990s decades. One of which is the romance phenomenon that was Ghost. The Patrick Swayze / Demi Moore paranormal romantic drama nabbed Whoopi Goldberg an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and Bruce Joel Rubin some Oscar hardware for Best Original Screenplay. It was also up for three more awards for that year, including Best Picture. Maybe hard to realize today or appreciate, but Ghost made over HALF A BILLION DOLLARS at the box office in 1990 ($217 million of that in the United States off of a $12 million opening). Ghost was everywhere and a staple in pop culture. Everybody knows the lines, the clay scene, everything. Now you can look at it again with a brand new 4K transfer when it arrives on the Paramount Presents label featuring a new interview with the director, Jerry Zucker. Pre-order now to secure your copy for its release date on July 21.
One of the joys of covering the Scream Factory titles for me is the ability to revisit some films that I haven’t seen in a significantly long time with a completely refreshed pair of eyes. Does it always pan out? No. But its still exciting to have another look. Thirteen Ghosts was a film I didn’t think much of (Or care for) back when it was released in 2001, but I was always a much different person then that I am now. While I wasn’t particularly fond of it, I’ve noticed over the years that there does seem to be a cult following for this one, so I’m looking forward to another chance. Regardless, this second release for the film (Originally on a double feature release with the 2005 House of Wax remake) is quite loaded and given the typical loving touches that Scream Factory is known for. They even nabbed Shannon Elizabeth (Very much an “it girl” in the early 2000s when this came out) back for an interview. You can pre-order now to secure a copy for the July 28th release date.
Braveheart is one of those Top 10 films of mine that I will continue to re-purchase without any thought or hesitation every time its available on a newer/better home media format.
